As storm season approaches, know what to do after disaster hits

Friday

Jul 24, 2009 at 12:01 AMJul 24, 2009 at 6:03 AM

The time after a major disaster is a time of combined stress and relief, both for those who have evacuated and for those who have stayed behind. While the winds have died down, the rain has stopped, and the floodwaters have ceased rising, there are still many dangers present.

David Ryan Palmer

The time after a major disaster is a time of stress and relief, both for those who have evacuated and for those who have stayed behind. While the winds have died down, the rain has stopped, and the floodwaters have ceased rising, there are still many dangers present.

Dr. Bertrand Foch with the Louisiana Health Department outlined a few safety tips to the Sulphur, La., Rotary Club on Wednesday afternoon.

"A lot of these tips are going to sound like common sense. That's because they are," he said.

However, when in the aftermath of an emergency situation, sometimes shock and grief override common sense. Even so, Foch urges for people to keep safety in mind as they assess damage and take stock.

Snakes may be trying to get to higher ground, Foch said. They need to escape floodwaters too, and in some cases might be hiding under debris around the home.

If someone is bitten by a snake, be sure to keep the person still. Try to keep the affected limb below the level of the heart, and seek emergency attention.

Mosquitoes

"Mosquitoes are more of a nusiance than a hazard, but diseases like West Nile can still be a factor after a storm," Foch said.

In order to limit mosquito exposure, he recommends wearing pants, socks and long sleeved shirts.

"You can also limit mosquito populations by regularly emptying things that hold standing water, like plant pots and simular things," he said.

Food and water

"Care must be taken when eating or drinking food after a hurricane, especially if it's food that's been in a non-powered refrigerator or freezer," Foch said.

Water can be purified by bringing it to a rolling boil for one minute, or by using a cleaning agent, like chlorine tablets. In a pinch, Foch added, you can use common household bleach to purify your water.

Mold

Mold is an everpresent problem in houses that have seen the brunt of hurricane storm surge. Mold normally isn't a problem for those without allergies or a weakened immune system, such as those with HIV or those who have just had an organ transplanted.

However, Foch said that a normal surgical mask or an "N95" mask would be sufficient to protect someone from mold inhalation.

Floodwaters and sewage

"Do not allow children to play in floodwaters," Foch said.

The water can contain hazardous sewage or other chemicals and may make yourself or your child sick, he added. If floodwaters must be traversed, skin contact usually won't make someone sick. However, getting contaminated water in the mouth or into an open sore is inadvisable. Be sure to clean and disinfect any wounds after being exposed to floodwaters.